Horse Recovery Time from Colic

Colic is one of the most dangerous of all equine conditions. We’ve explored the symptoms of colic and colic treatment elsewhere, but this guide focuses on the average time it takes for a horse to return to full health when recovering from colic.

Colic Recovery Time – What to Expect

•    Colic is thought to afflict 10 per cent of all horses every year, so it’s a problem that can be more common than you’d think. However, in most cases the condition is rarely threatening and will pass relatively quickly with expert help.

•    After colic treatment, a horse should only take a couple of hours to shake off the effects of colic. However, the treatment process can be fairly traumatic for a horse, so boosting the horse’s morale may be more of an issue.

•    However, if the horse does not respond to colic treatment in a positive manner, a vet will need to carry out a thorough exam and apply fresh medicine. Depending on the severity of the colic, recovery from advanced treatment may take a couple of days or more.

•    Finally, once the horse has returned to full health, consider how you can prevent the problem from occurring later down the line. Sadly, colic will always be a threat for any horse, but the chances of a severe case of horse colic can be minimised by monitoring the horse’s food supply and ensuring conditions in the paddock and stable do not allow parasites to thrive.